It won't work here

[Elta]

When ever I here people talk about Scandanavia countries and Finland's government they allways say "yeah it's great but in countrys X and Y it won't work because our countries are so much bigger"

Anyone understand what they mean? Specifically?

 

[Colonel]

Well from the very vague statement you made I would assume that those people would be refering to the Socialism Scandanavian countries have adopted. They say it can't work in countrys that are so much larger because of the prime example of the Soviet Union, it was huge and envitably collapse under Socialism because it couldn't sustain itself with massive social programs and a large military.

 

[kulade]

I think the main argument is to adopt such policies in other countries would be too much of a radical change, and perhaps the psyche of Americans (or any nation) would have to undergo significant changes to adjust to a more socialist system.

 

[ArneHD]

Well from the very vague statement you made I would assume that those people would be refering to the Socialism Scandanavian countries have adopted. They say it can't work in countrys that are so much larger because of the prime example of the Soviet Union, it was huge and envitably collapse under Socialism because it couldn't sustain itself with massive social programs and a large military.

Social-democracy, not socialism.

 

[oagersnap]

Well from the very vague statement you made I would assume that those people would be refering to the Socialism Scandanavian countries have adopted. They say it can't work in countrys that are so much larger because of the prime example of the Soviet Union, it was huge and envitably collapse under Socialism because it couldn't sustain itself with massive social programs and a large military.

...Except that our kind of socialism here in Scandinavia is democratic, whereas in the Soviet Union, it was closer to a dictatorship.

 

[crabapple]

When ever I here people talk about Scandanavia countries and Finland's government they allways say "yeah it's great but in countrys X and Y it won't work because our countries are so much bigger"

Anyone understand what they mean? Specifically?

its a more of a culture thing, do most people trust the goverment in for example the US, to not waste tax money on useless things? I would belive most of you would answer no to that question, while here most people trust the goverment atleast some, to not waste the money away

 

[Colonel]

...Except that our kind of socialism here in Scandinavia is democratic, whereas in the Soviet Union, it was closer to a dictatorship.

I wasn't saying that it was. I was simply stating that system of socialism will make any nation collapse if it trys to maintain a large military budget and a massive social program budget like the Soviets did. Wether its a democracy or not doesn't matter, economic systems are what would make it collapse.

 

[ArneHD]

I wasn't saying that it was. I was simply stating that system of socialism will make any nation collapse if it trys to maintain a large military budget and a massive social program budget like the Soviets did. Wether its a democracy or not doesn't matter, economic systems are what would make it collapse.

The economic systems are different too. And the swedes and Finns are doing quite well considering their relative lack of natural resources.

 

[Colonel]

They are doing well but when they start spending half there budget on defense and still try to maintain social programs they will collapse.

 

[Verbose]

What Crabapple said.

It won't work in a situation where citizens suspect each other of playing the system, which means everyone plays the system so as not to "loose out". The net effect is everything being damn inefficient, either corrupt as hell, watered down so far it's pointless, or filled with draconical measures to make sure no one scams the system (which takes a lot of resources, cutting efficiency).

Scandinavians are funny in the way the all expect others to follow the rules, which means most do, which is a very efficient order of things.

There are a few things about legislation to ensure administrative transparency too, making sure govt. business and administration is conducted in full view of the public, which is structural, but the political class of someplace like the US would never go for that.

 

[Verbose]

They are doing well but when they start spending half there budget on defense and still try to maintain social programs they will collapse.

So would the US, so it would seem a rather moot point.

 

[Verbose]

The economic systems are different too. And the swedes and Finns are doing quite well considering their relative lack of natural resources.

That's because Sweden has produced more multinational corporations, per capita in relation to the size of its population, than any other nation.

These places are at the far end of the spectrum re. size of their public sector, but the financial and industrial sectors are all private.

The traditional deal is for government to provide for industry, making sure the workforce is given proper education, healthcare, retirement etc., and perhaps most importantly it makes sure the labour market is peaceful, no strikes. Otoh industry and business accept to pay some for the privilege of this sterling service.

 

[Elta]

That's because Sweden has produced more multinational corporations, per capita in relation to the size of its population, than any other nation.

These places are at the far end of the spectrum re. size of their public sector, but the financial and industrial sectors are all private.

The traditional deal is for government to provide for industry, making sure the workforce is given proper education, healthcare, retirement etc., and perhaps most importantly it makes sure the labour market is peaceful, no strikes. Otoh industry and business accept to pay some for the privilege of this sterling service.

I've heard that they strike much less compared to other OCED countries but, when they do it is ussually over something serious and it last long.

- which is better than the alternative ( like in France or Mexico where there is a big strike going on all the time)

* I suppose

 

[Colonel]

So would the US, so it would seem a rather moot point.

Thats my point and that is the answer to the question. When people say it wouldn't work here(US) because we are so big. Its because it would collapse our system unless we completely lost our military.

 

[skadistic]

Thats my point and that is the answer to the question. When people say it wouldn't work here(US) because we are so big. Its because it would collapse our system unless we completely lost our military.

There are also a great many would vehemently oppose it on principle.

 

[Angst]

The economic systems are different too. And the swedes and Finns are doing quite well considering their relative lack of natural resources.

And Danes
said the little voice